more than twice as likely as members of any younger generation to say they “always” attend Mass on these days (27 percent compared to 10 percent).

Reconciliation

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Twenty-six percent of adult Catholics say they participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation once a year or more often (this is equivalent to 13.3 million adults). Only 2 percent of Catholics do so once a month or more often. Thirty percent say they go to Confession less than once a year and 45 percent say they never do so.

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More than six in ten weekly Mass attenders (63 percent) participate in the Sacrament of Reconciliation once a year or more often, compared to 37 percent of those attending Mass less than weekly but at least once a month and only 6 percent of those attending less often.

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Sixty-two percent of Catholics agree “somewhat” or “strongly” with the statement, “I can be a good Catholic without celebrating the sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a year” (33 percent agree “strongly”). Even 54 percent of weekly Mass attenders agree at least “somewhat” with this statement.

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Two-thirds of all adult Catholics agree (67 percent) at least “somewhat” that one must make a confession with contrition for the forgiveness of sins. Forty-eight percent agree similarly that acts of penance or fasting are necessary for this forgiveness. More than half (52 percent) agree “somewhat” or “strongly” that by participating in the sacrament of Reconciliation they are reconciled with God and the Church. One in four Catholics agree “somewhat” or “strongly” with the statement, “The sacrament of Reconciliation is only necessary for the forgiveness of very serious sins” (8 percent agree “strongly”).

Anointing of the Sick

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Fifty-one percent of respondents have requested the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick at a time of serious illness, either for themselves or for a family member. This is more common among those of the Pre-Vatican II (53 percent) and Vatican II (59 percent) generations than among those of the Post-Vatican II (46 percent) and Millennial (43 percent) generations.

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Forty-five percent of adult Catholics say that receiving the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick at some point is “very” important to them. Thirty-one percent say this is “somewhat” important, followed by 14 percent saying this is “a little” important, and 10 percent saying it is “not at all” important to them.

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Sixty-eight percent of Catholics who attend Mass weekly or more often say that receiving the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick at some point is “very” important to them. Twenty- five percent say this is “somewhat” important, followed by 4 percent saying this is “a little” important, and only 3 percent saying it is “not at all” important to them.